Golf training apparatus



NOV. 26, 1968 J BESTON GOLF TRAINING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 8, 1966 INVENTOR. ANTHONY J. BESTON.

AGENT.

United States Patent "Ice 3,413,006 GOLF TRAINING APPARATUS Anthony J. Beston, 123 Maple Ave., Blasdell, N.Y. 14219 Filed Aug. 8, 1966, Ser. No. 571,024 7 Claims. (Cl. 273-187) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A platform on which a golfer stands while executing a golf swing includes a sensing element that detects when a golfer shifts his weight to his rearward foot. If a predetermined excess amount of his weight is shifted to said foot, a golf ball is displaced from its teed position.

The present invention relates to a golf training apparatus that automatically aids the beginner golfer in developing a proper golf swing.

In order to execute a proper golf swing, the longitudinal axis of the golfer must remain stationary during the backward swing, the forward swing, and the follow through. Too many beginner golfers move their head during or at the top of the backward swing, thereby causing the longitudinal axis of their body to move or sway.

Devices are known which are designed to give a visual indication of the extent of a golfers head or body movement during the swing. Generally, these require the golfer to actively look at an indicator or the like, which when placed in the vicinity of the tee, functions as an unnatural distracting influence that detracts from proper concentration on the swing and the ball.

Contrasted with ordinary indicator-type devices, the apparatus of the present invention actually gives the golfer a strong incentive to correct his improper movements; since, unless he does, he will not be able to hit the ball, as will become apparent hereinbelow.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a golf training device which automatically aids in preventing tre golfer from swaying without having any distracting influence upon him.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a training device which prevents the golfer from hitting the ball unless and until he stops moving his head and body.

Basically, the apparatus of the present invention comprises means to sense movement of the longitudinal axis of a golfers body and means in response thereto for ejecting the golf ball from the tee before the forward swing has been completed. In this manner, the golfer will not be able to hit the ball unless he corrects his swing, and when he does hit the ball, he will know that his swing has been corrected.

For a fuller understanding of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description of the same taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the training apparatus with parts thereof broken away in section,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view along line 22 of FIG- URE l, and,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the golf training device is indicated generally by numeral 10, and as shown in FIG- URE 1 is generally rectangular in shape; although any suitable shape would sufiice. A flat rectangular platform 12, having a rectangular through opening 14 and a pair of through bores 16 and 18 is fixedly mounted, as by bolts 20, upon a base member 22. Member 22 has a planar bottom surface 24 and four side walls 26 projecting perpendicularly therefrom. The side wall 26 that is adjacent 3,413,006 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 through opening 14 has two spaced vertical slots 28 and 30. A pin 32 intermediate slots 28 and 30, closer to slot 28, is fixedly attached to the interior of side wall 26.

A battery 34 or any equivalent source of electrical power is fixed to the interior of bottom surface 24. Also fixed to bottom surface 24 is a cylindrical tubular bearing 36 that is directly below opening 16. The bearing 36 has a longitudinal blind bore 38 and a transverse through bore 40 communicating therewith. A third member that is fixed to bottom surface 24 is metal shaft 42 surrounded by a coil 44.

Slidably mounted in opening 16 is a push button 46 having an annular flange 48 and a cylindrical stem 50 projecting downwardly therefrom. Stem 50 is slidably received in blind bore 38 of bearing 36 and has a slot 52 in the end thereof, adjacent through bore 40. Push button 46 may be fabricated from a plastic or any other suitable material. A compression spring 58 is placed betwen push button 46 and bearing member 36 for biasing the former against the underside of platform 12. Slidably received in through bore 40 is a pin 60 that is biased inwardly towards blind bore 38 by a compression spring 62. Mounted on the underside of flange 48 is a metallic contact 54 and is in opposite spaced relation to a metallic contact member 56 that is suitably fixed to hearing 36.

A pin 64 mounted on side wall 26 rotatably supports a link 66 having a vertical end 68 directly below opening 18 and a short end 70 that is adjacent shaft 42. As shown in FIGURE 3, end 70 is closer to pivot point 64 than end 68, and consequently, the arc traversed by the former is shorter than that traversed by the latter.

A chain 69 interconnects pin 60 and link 66, the length of which is chosen to be taut when pin 60 is received in slot 52 of push button 46. As shown in FIGURE 2, the chain is loose since pin 60 does not extend into slot 52.

Passing through opening 18 and fixed to the underside of platform 12 is a conventional rubber golf tee 72. As shown in FIGURE 3, end 68 of link 66 is adapted to pass through tee 72 a suflicient distance to contact and knock off a ball that might be resting thereon.

A rectangular foot-supporting plate 74 is slidably received in rectangular opening 14 and has projecting from the underside thereof a plurality of legs 76. Legs 76 rest upon a weight responsive means which is shown schematically in FIGURE 2 as comprising a rectangular member 78 and a compression spring 80. It is to be understood that any type of weighing or weight responsive device might be utilized.

The underside of plate 74 has fixed thereto a metallic contact 82 that is opposite a similar contact 84 on the end of an adjustable member 86. Member 86 is in frictional sliding engagement with slot 28 and projects from side wall 26. A connecting member 88, projecting from member 86, is pivotally mounted on pin 32 and is connected to a pointer element 90. Pointer 90 passes through slot 30. As seen, the arrangement is such that a very small movement of element 86 produces a much larger movement of pointer 90. A suitable indicator plate 92 is mounted on side wall 26 adjacent pointer 90 and is calibrated to indicate a range of weight numbers to accommodate the various weights of golfers.

A wire 94 connects contact 82 with contact 54, whereas a wire 96 connects contact 56 with one end of coil 44. The other end of coil 44 is connected to one terminal of battery 34 by a wire 98, whereas the other terminal of battery 34 is connected to contact 84 by wire .100. As can 'be seen contacts 82, 84, 54, 56, coil 44 and battery 34 are wired in series.

In operation, the golfer first adjusts member 86 in slot 28 to correspond to his weight as indicated by pointer 90. This spaces contact 84 the proper distance away from contact 82. It has been determined that an increase of more than 30 percent of the golfers total weight on his right foot constitutes, at the top of the back swing, an improper weight shift that is commonly caused by a swaying or shifting of the golfers head and body. For example, a golfer weighing 170 pounds should not have more than 136 pounds (170/2+0.30 170) on his right foot. In this instance, the 170-pound indication on plate 92 means that contacts 82 and 84 will meet when approximately 136 pounds are sensed by weight responsive members 78 and 80.

After adjusting member 86, the golfer stands on platform 12 with his right foot on plate 74; his left foot adjacent thereto on platform 12 as shown in dotted outline in FIGURE 1 and places a golf ball on tee 72. He then taps push button 46 with the head of his club or foot thereby closing contact 54 and 56; locking the push button in its lowest position whereat pin 60 is firmly received in slot 52. The movement of the pin into the slot takes up the slack in chain 69. The golfer is now ready to swing.

If the golfers swing is not proper and he shifts causing an excess of weight to be placed through his right feet on plate 74, contact 82 will meet contact 84 closing the circuit to coil 44. Energization of coil 44 magnetizes shaft 42 which attracts end 70 of metal link 66, causing end 68 to be deflected upwardly through tee 72 to knock the ball therefrom-all before the golfer can complete his swing. This is so because the time required to attract link 66 is much less than the time required to go from the top of the back swing to the bottom of the forward swing.

Upward movement of the portion of link 66 that is connected to chain 69 causes the taut chain to pull pin 60 from slot 52, thereby releasing push button 46 and breaking the contact between 54 and 56. This opens the circuit to coil 44 eliminating the magnetic forces between shaft 42 and end 70, allowing link 66 to return to its initial position due to the greater weight distribution on the tee side of pivot 64. Before link 66 can be actuated again, push button 46 must be reset. This requirement for resetting permits the golfer to take practice swings without accidentally actuating link 66.

It thus is apparent that the present apparatus automatically functions to prevent the golfer from hitting the ball, unless he executes a swing that is free from any swaying or improper body movement, without having any distracting influence upon his concentration. Moreover, the golfer is given a great incentive to execute a proper swing, because otherwise he will soon tire of swinging at an empty tee.

While the present apparatus has been described with regard to a right-handed golfer, it is obvious that a slight reversal of structure will adapt it for a left-handed golfer.

While a preferred arrangement for carrying out the principles of the present invention has been described, other modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the present invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

.1. Golf training apparatus comprising;

(a) platform means for supporting the weight of a golfer standing with his two feet thereon in a golf club swinging position,

(b) sensing means on said platform'me'a'ns for' sensing a change in the amount of weight on one of said golfers feet while executing a swing with a golf club, and

(c) actuating means responsive to said sensing means for displacing a golf ball from a position on a golf ball tee to another position when more than a predetermined amount of weight has been sensed.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is further provided;

(d) adjusting means for varying the predetermined amount of weight.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein there is further provided;

(e) reset means for rendering said actuating means inoperative.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is further provided;

(d) a first opening in said platform means,

(e) a golf tee in said first opening, and,

(f) said actuating means responsive to said sensing means comprising an element substantially coaxial with said tee and adapted to pass therethrough.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein there is further provided;

(g) a second opening in said platform means slidably receiving said weight sensing means.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein there is further provided;

(h) a-third opening in said platform means,

(i) a push button slidable in said third opening,

(j) -latching means for locking said push button in its lowest position, and

(k) release means connected to said element for releasing said latching means when said element passes through said golf tee.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein there is further provided;

(1) a first electrical contact on said weight sensing means,

(In) an adjustable electrical contact opposite said first contact and spaced therefrom,

(n) a second electrical contact on said push button,

(0) a third electrical contact opposite said second contact, and, so spaced therefrom that contact is made therewith when said push button is in its lowest position,

(p) electromagnetic means for causing said element to pass through saidv tee,

(q) a source of electricity, and,

(r) said contacts, sail electromagnetic means, and, said source of electricity being wired in series.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,169,022 2/1965 Kretsinger 273-183 3,352,559 11/1967 Larsen 273-187 ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE J. MARLO, Assistant Examiner. 

